About Us

• Kris Brauner

  A graduate of LSU and native of southeast Louisiana, Brauner now writes a LSU blog, the Saturday Night Slant, which covers Tigers sports and regional recruiting. Though his blog focuses on LSU, Kris is well versed on all aspects of SEC Football. Kris covers LSU and the SEC West for Southern Pigskin.

• Thomas Johns

  A long time college football fan, Johns has seen games in most of the college football venues in the southeast. Johns covers recruiting and the national scene for SouthernPigskin.com.

• BJ Bennett

  A graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia, Bennett developed the Southern Pigskin concept as a teenager. He has worked for over a decade in sports journalism, writing for major newspapers and hosting a radio show for The Fan Sports Radio 790 and 1350, ESPN Radio Coastal Georgia. Bennett has been published in newspapers, magazines, journals and websites all across the southeast. Down Here, Bennett's original book on southern college football, is currently in the process of being published.

• Russell V.

  A recent graduate of Elon University, Varner is a Southern Conference enthusiast who now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. His love for SoCon football can only be matched by his love for Carolina Panthers football. He has been published in multiple newspapers in North Carolina, has worked on television and radio and now covers SoCon football for Southern Pigskin.

• Jeremy Hillman

  Jeremy is an Auburn graduate that resides with his wife in Tampa, FL. An avid SEC sports fan, he has been to every SEC football stadium, every SEC bowl site and follows the Southeastern Conference with a passion. His articles have been picked up by numerous media outlets, including ESPN.com, and he has appeared as a special guest on sports radio broadcasts throughout the south. A true southern sports fan, Jeremy loves tailgating, football Saturdays and healthy debate among rivals, fanatics and friends. Shoot him an email and share your thoughts, secpigskin@gmail.com.

• Brandon Rink

  Brandon Rink is a multimedia journalist at the Anderson Independent Mail and Editor of ACCBlogger.com. Brandon is an avid college sports fan, and covers the ACC for Southern Pigskin.

• Ritch

  Ritch is the Editor of Leftover Hot Dog, a blog devoted to Gamecocks Sports. The LOHD site has been giving insight and analysis about Gamecock Athletics with the occasional randomness on other topics since 2005. He covers USC for Southern Pigskin.

• Dave Singleton

  A graduate of the University of Missouri, Singleton has followed national college football intensely since 2000. He has written for E-sports and Bleacher Report before starting his own site, Pigskin Punditry, in 2009. He writes a national column for Southern Pigskin.

• Flint Harris

  Flint Harris is the Publisher of Holyturf.com. Having spent nine years working at Arkansas and Baylor, Flint has several years of experience working in college sports. He not only loves the game of college football, but the passion surrounding the sport.

• Rodney Atkins

  Yes, that Rodney Atkins. With multiple No. 1 hits, and platinum selling albums, Rodney embodies the Country in country music star. A small-town Tennessee native, Rodney has a rare gift for reflecting the lives of his listeners in his music-their hopes, their concerns, their spirit, their adversities, even their sense of humor. Rodney is in his second year of making weekly pics and giving our experts a run for their money. And we can't thank him enough for his participation.

• Kevin Price

  Kevin Price is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. Kevin is the former sports editor of the Brunswick (Ga.) News, where he worked from 1995-2009. He is currently a freelance writer working for several media outlets including southernpigskin.com and the Georgia Times-Union. Kevin has covered several major sporting events including the Super Bowl and the Masters and his work has been published in several newspapers and magazines across the country.

• B.J. Bennett

  A graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia, Bennett developed the Southern Pigskin concept as a teenager. He has worked for over a decade in sports journalism, writing for major newspapers and hosting a radio show for The Fan Sports Radio 790 and 1350, ESPN Radio Coastal Georgia. Bennett has been published in newspapers, magazines, journals and websites all across the southeast. Down Here, Bennett's original book on southern college football, is currently in the process of being published.

• Ryne Hancock

  Ryne Hancock grew up in Memphis as a huge LSU football fan in the middle of UT country. After surviving high school and then graduating community college with an associate's degree in Social Work, he is currently the host of the "The Afternoon Zoo" on CBU's Pirate Radio. While he is an LSU fan at heart, his columns will focus on UT and Vanderbilt as well as the recruiting wars in the Volunteer State. You can follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/DocHancock

• Buddy Martin

  Buddy Martin is a veteran, Florida-born-and-raised journalist who has won more than 165 awards during his distinguished journalism career. He authored “Urban’s Way,” the official biography of Florida coach Urban Meyer and Buddy’s fourth book on Gator football. He also co-authored the autobiographies of two Hall of Fame athletes: Terry Bradshaw, “Looking Deep,” and Dan Issel, “Parting Shots.” Martin is a product of the UF Journalism School and the former sports editor of Florida Today, The St. Petersburg Times, New York Daily News and Denver Post. He won an Emmy as an associate producer for “The NFL Today Show” on CBS. Buddy is also a long-time radio talk show host and commentator in Colorado and in Florida. He is also co-creator of “The Sports Journalism Summit” at The Poynter Media Institute in St. Petersburg. You can e-mail him at buddyshow@aol.com.

• Ben Troupe

  Ben Troupe is Southern born and bred and proud of it! He was born in Swainsboro, GA, in a tiny community where everyone knew each other. Ben received All-American honors during his time at University of Florida; 2000 - 2003. He lined up as tight end splitting his four years under Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook. In 2004, he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Tennessee Titans, where he spent the majority of his career. Ben represents the best of Southern football, he is passionate, driven and appreciative for the talents that God blessed him with. He will be writing regular columns for SouthernPigskin.com. Ben also is passionate about giving back. He focuses on helping students achieve their potential and reach their dream of attending college. From his scholarship program to motivational speaking, Ben is trying to make a difference in their lives. Check out his site www.bentroupe.com.

• Garrett Strunk

  Garrett Strunk was born in Tallahassee, FL. When he's not working as a surveyor or preoccupied with one of his never ending home improvement projects, he loves to engage with others about FSU sports and the Atlantic Coast Conference. A huge fan of the ACC, Garrett will bring heat solely from a fans perspective. Email Garrett at garrettabc@yahoo.com

• Matt Smith

  Matt is a 2007 graduate of Notre Dame and has spent most of his life pondering why most people in the Mid-Atlantic actually think there are more important things than college football. He has blogged for College Football News, covering both national news as well as Notre Dame and the service academies. He credits Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel for his love of college football and tailgating at Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn for his love of sundresses. Matt covers the ACC as well as the national scene.

• Derrick Stacy

  Derrick was born in the small town of Grundy, VA surrounded by the Kentucky and West Virginia lines. A 2005 graduate of the University of Kentucky, whom is currently residing in the friendly confines of the Appalachian Mountains, on the Kanawha River in Charleston, WV. An avid sports fan from the time he was able to hold a ball and follower of all things southern born and bred, Derrick provides an excellent knowledge on programs residing below the famous Mason Dixon Line. Derrick is the co-founder of Sports-at-Work, http://www.sports-at-work.com, and can be followed on twitter @SPWDerrick or reached VIA e-mail at derrickstacy@gmail.com .

• Carlos Pineda

  Carlos recently graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and spent the fall as the UCF football beat writer for the Florida Today during the 2010 season. Fully motivated, Pineda covered many of the UCF athletic teams, including basketball and baseball, and eventually became Editor-in-Chief of the Central Florida Future. He has been published in the Orlando Sentinel, and interned at the Orlando Business Journal. He also helped cover the Orlando Magic for Orlando Magic Daily as a credentialed member of the media during the 2010-11 season. Pineda is from Pembroke Pines, FL and covers Miami, Florida and Florida State for Southern Pigskin. You can follow him on twitter: @carlosfpineda10

• Arky Shea

  Arky Shea is a native of New Market, Alabama and is a University of Montevallo graduate in Mass Communications with his concentration in Journalism. Arky is the play-by-play voice of the Montevallo Falcons men’s and women’s basketball teams and the university’s baseball team. He also publishes his own podcast, “The Out-of-Town Scoreboard,” which covers audibly the SEC, college football and tons of stories in-between. The show is available at www.outoftownscoreboard.podbean.com and is also available on iTunes. He has just finished an internship at WZZN The Zone, a sports radio station in Huntsville, Alabama and currently is employed by the Zone as the online producer and production coordinator. You can follow Arky on Twitter @ArkyShea and covers Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. E-Mail him arkyshea@gmail.com.

• WoadBlue

  WoadBlue a Tennessee native and UNC graduate who is now semi-retired and living back in Tennessee after having lived since his UNC days in SWC country and Big 8 country, as well as both SC and NC. Other than ACC sports and SEC football, WoadBlue a fan of the Tour de France, the French Open, and hurling (Ireland's biggest team sport).

• Kyle Bailey

  Kyle Bailey is a good ol’ Southern Appalachian boy who loves explaining to people outside of the South just what football means to us below the Mason-Dixon line. He’s a graduate of Virginia Tech, but he’s also the host of “The Clubhouse with Kyle Bailey” on Super Sports 101.7 FM. “The Clubhouse” is the premier sports talk show in Blacksburg and throughout Southwest Virginia. Super Sports 101.7 FM is the sister station to the flagship station for VT Football, 105.3 The Bear. So “The Clubhouse” is the only radio program that gets regular visits from the Virginia Tech broadcast crew and former players like Bruce Smith and Tyrod Taylor. When Kyle isn’t playing slow-pitch softball or trolling the banks of the New River for small mouth bass, he’s talking Virginia Tech Football to anyone that will listen. Watch for Kyle’s coverage of the Hokies this fall here at Southern Pigskin.

• Kevin Thomas

• Peter Coclanis

  Peter Coclanis and Alex Coclanis - Peter Coclanis is an economic historian at UNC-Chapel Hill, but sometimes write on sports as well—both in professional outlets and for newspapers and magazines. Alex is a UNC student and aspiring journalist. Over the last two years, Peter and Alex have written on sports for the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune, and SLAM Online, among other venues. Peter can be reached via email at coclanis@unc.edu

• Chris Bunn

  Growing up in a state that has long been associated with college basketball, Chris Bunn is the rare North Carolina native who prefers the gridiron to the hardwood. Attending school in the Southern Conference, Chris helped create the student-produced 'One-on-One Sports', which eventually won a College Emmy Award. Serving as a host on 'One-on-one Sports', Chris is very familiar with the spotlight. He has written for major websites, including Phil Steele's college football blog, and has been guest on numerous radio shows. Now working with a television station in Charlottesville, VA, Chris will spend the majority of his time covering Duke, NC State, UNC and Wake Forest for Southern Pigskin.

• Jenna Sweeney

  Jenna Sweeney is a current student at the University of Florida majoring in English. She was born and raised in the Sunshine State and has been a lifelong Gator fan. She has been playing sports since she was six years old and was the starting pitcher on her high school softball team. She is a huge fan of all college sports, especially football and avidly follows recruiting.

For advertising information or if you are interested in writing for Southern Pigskin, send an email to charlie@southernpigskin.com.

SouthernPigskin.com is the leading name in southern college football coverage. We love the sport in general, but have a special place in our heart for the ACC, SEC and Southern Conference. No college football website on the internet is more frequently updated. Check us out—you will feel our passion for the game. Born and Raised.